Research

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Research is the primary method through which players can enhance and expand the abilities of their colony. Certain buildings and gear require research in order to be built.

Mechanics

A research bench is required to conduct research, with some projects requiring more advanced research stations. Research is presented as a tech tree, with later projects placed further right. Most research projects require a prerequisite.

Once a project is selected, a researcher will work at the bench to generate research points. Research Speed is primarily determined by the Intellectual skill. ​Only one research project can be studied at a time. However, you can freely switch between research projects, and all research progress is retained. Multiple researchers will all contribute towards the same project, with no penalties. In addition, multiple benches can be used simultaneously, again, without penalty.

Your faction's tech level determines research point costs, and therefore time spent researching. New Arrivals start at an Industrial level, and have normal costs for all research. New Tribes start at a Neolithic tech level, so certain research costs are increased:

• Researching Medieval-level tech, like Long Swords, takes 1.5x the research points for tribes to complete.
• Researching Industrial-level tech or higher takes 2x the research for tribes. Note that the majority of research topics are industrial or higher.

Both New Arrivals and New Tribes start with certain projects already researched. Specific scenarios can add, but not remove, pre-researched topics.

Mods can add their own research projects; they can be manually placed, or automatically placed if not specified. Projects will be moved apart if they overlap. They can also add separate research tabs, independent of the main tree.

Research speed

The number of research points gained is based on the researcher's research speed factor, which is largely based on their intellectual skill. The number of research points gained per tick is calculated with the following equation:

0.00825 × Pawn Research Speed × Building Research Speed Factor × Difficulty Factor

Where:

• 0.00825 points/tick is the base research factor.^[Note]
• Pawn Research Speed is the research speed stat from the researcher. This depends on other factors, like health capacities and global work speed.
• Building Research Speed Factor is the multiplier from the research station. This depends on other factors, like whether the building is outdoors, the temperature, the cleanliness of the room, and if any facilities are connected. The following are the base factors:
  • Simple research bench: ×0.75
  • Hi-tech research bench: ×1.00
  • Hi-tech research bench with Multi-analyzer: ×1.10
• Difficulty Factor is the multiplier from the chosen difficulty settings. The factors for the default difficulties are:
  • Peaceful and Community Builder (Easy) - x1.2
  • Adventure Story (Normal) and Strive to Survive (Rough) - x1
  • Blood and Dust (Hard) - x0.95
  • Losing is Fun (Extreme) - x0.9

Research Speed Per Level		Points Per 2,500 ticks (1 in-game hour) Per Difficulty
Skill	Research Speed	Peaceful/Easy (x1.2)	Medium/Rough (x1)	Hard (x0.95)	Extreme (x0.9)
0	8%	1.98	1.65	1.568	1.485
1	19.5%	4.826	4.022	3.821	3.62
2	31%	7.673	6.394	6.074	5.754
3	42.5%	10.519	8.766	8.327	7.889
4	54%	13.365	11.138	10.581	10.024
5	65.5%	16.211	13.509	12.834	12.158
6	77%	19.058	15.881	15.087	14.293
7	88.5%	21.904	18.253	17.34	16.428
8	100%	24.75	20.625	19.594	18.563
9	111.5%	27.596	22.997	21.847	20.697
10	123%	30.443	25.369	24.1	22.832
11	134.5%	33.289	27.741	26.354	24.967
12	146%	36.135	30.113	28.607	27.101
13	157.5%	38.981	32.484	30.86	29.236
14	169%	41.828	34.856	33.113	31.371
15	180.5%	44.674	37.228	35.367	33.505
16	192%	47.52	39.6	37.62	35.64
17	203.5%	50.366	41.972	39.873	37.775
18	215%	53.213	44.344	42.127	39.909
19	226.5%	56.059	46.716	44.38	42.044
20	238%	58.905	49.088	46.633	44.179

Research Projects

Neolithic Research Projects

Research projects of the neolithic tech level. Both tribes and colonies research these at the same rate.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon
Psychoid brewing	Prepare psychoid leaves into a mildly euphoria-inducing and addictive tea at the campfire or cooking stove.	500	500	500	None	Simple
Tree sowing	Sow the local biome's natural trees in your fields.	1000	1000	1000	None	Simple
Beer brewing	Allows you to build a brewery and fermenting vats to transform hops into tasty, tasty beer.	400	400	400	None	Simple
Passive cooler	Make passive coolers, to cool indoor spaces without using electricity.	400	400	400	None	Simple
Cocoa	Sow cocoa trees to create your own delicious chocolate. Eating chocolate fulfills the need for recreation, and it's valuable on the market too.	1000	1000	1000	Tree sowing	Simple
Devilstrand	Plant devilstrand, a slow-growing mushroom that yields an exceptionally tough, tear resistant plant fiber.	800	800	800	None	Simple
Pemmican	Make pemmican, a preserved mixture of meat and plant matter that doesn't go bad for a long time. Great for traveling.	500	500	500	None	Simple
Recurve bow	Build the recurve bow, an effective and inexpensive ranged weapon.	400	400	400	None	Simple

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Medieval Research Projects

Research projects of the Medieval tech level. Tribes require 1.5x as much research time to research these. Colonies require only the base cost.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon
Complex clothing	Tailor complicated garments like pants, dusters, and cowboy hats.	600	600	900	None	Simple
Complex furniture	Build complex furniture like beds, end tables, dining chairs, armchairs, dressers, tool cabinets, billiard tables[sic], and poker tables, vents, sarcophagi, and more.	300	300	450	None	Simple
Carpet making	Weave beautiful carpets from cloth.	800	800	1200	None	Simple
Smithing	Build smithies for crafting metal weapons and tools. Allows you to craft simple weapons like knives, gladii, and maces. Work metal into clean, beautiful floor tiles.	700	700	1050	None	Simple
Stonecutting	Cut rock chunks into stone blocks for use in construction. Build beautiful stone tile floors or ugly concrete walkways.	300	300	450	None	Simple
Long blades	Craft longswords and spears.	400	400	600	Smithing	Simple
Plate armor	Smith suits of plate armor from metal or wood. This heavy armor noticeably slows movement, but protects very effectively.	600	600	900	Smithing Complex clothing	Simple
Greatbow	Craft greatbows for killing enemies at great range.	600	600	900	Recurve bow	Simple
Noble apparel	Tailor noble-specific apparel like formal shirts and royal robes.	400	400	600	Complex clothing	Simple
Royal apparel	Tailor royal apparel of the highest tier, like royal robes and crowns.	400	400	600	Noble apparel Smithing	Simple
Harp	Craft the harp, a simple stationary musical instrument popular among nobility in some cultures.	500	500	750	Complex furniture	Simple
Harpsichord	Craft the Harpsichord, a complex stationary musical instrument.	500	500	750	Harp Smithing	Simple

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Industrial Research Projects

Research projects of the Industrial tech level. Tribes require 2x as much research time to research these. Colonies require only the base cost.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon
Drug production	Build a drug lab for basic drug synthesis. Further research is required to make specific drugs.	500	500	1000	None	Simple
Psychite refining	Refine psychoid leaves into flake and yayo, different forms of the euphoric drug psychite.	400	400	800	Drug production	Simple
Wake-up production	Synthesize wake-up, a work performance-enhancing drug which replaces the need for sleep.	600	600	1200	Drug production	Simple
Go-juice production	Produce go-juice, a synthetic combat-performance-enhancing drug which improves shooting, melee, and movement ability, and dulls pain.	1000	1000	2000	Drug production	Simple
Penoxycyline production	Produce Penoxycyline a disease prevention drug which blocks plague, malaria, and more before they start.	500	500	1000	Drug production	Simple
Electricity	Harness the power of electricity for a hundred different tasks.	1600	1600	3200	None	Simple
Battery	Build batteries for storing electricity.	400	400	800	Electricity	Simple
Biofuel refining	Build Biofuel refineries to make chemfuel from biological matter like wood or foodstuffs.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple
Watermill generator	Build watermill generators on rivers to generate a steady supply of power.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple
Nutrient paste	Build nutrient paste dispensers which efficiently produce edible meals from raw nutritive feedstocks, while requiring no labor at all.	400	400	800	Electricity	Simple
Solar panel	Build solar panels for electrical generation.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple
Air conditioning	Build coolers to make people comfortable in hot weather or to construct freezers for storing perishable goods.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple
Autodoor	Build autodoors which automatically open when someone approaches without slowing anyone down.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple
Hydroponics	Build hydroponics basins to rapidly grow crops indoors regardless of the terrain or weather outside.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple
Tube television	Produce tube televisions for recreational watching.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity Complex furniture	Simple
Packaged survival meal	Produce packaged survival meals, which never go bad. Great for traveling.	500	500	1000	Nutrient paste	Simple
Firefoam	Construct firefoam poppers, automatic fire-safety devices which spread fire-retardant foam in response to encroaching flames.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple
IEDs	Build improvised traps from any kind of mortar shell.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple
Geothermal power	Build geothermal power plants on top of steam geysers, for uninterrupted power.	3200	3200	6400	Electricity	Simple
Sterile materials	Construct sterile tiles to make cleanrooms for safer and more effective medical treatment, research, and cooking.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple
Advanced lights	Change the color of standard electric lights, and reduce their power consumption by half. This does not affect sun lamps.	300	300	600	Electricity	Simple
Machining	Build machining tables to craft guns, grenades, flak armor, and to shred dead mechanoids for resources.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity Smithing	Simple
Smokepop packs	Build smokepop packs which allow the wearer to deploy a defensive smokescreen.	300	300	600	Machining Complex clothing	Simple
Prosthetics	Build inexpensive prosthetic body parts to replace lost limbs. Requires a skilled doctor to attach.	600	600	1200	Machining	Simple
Gunsmithing	Craft simple manually operated guns like revolvers, pump shotguns, bolt-action rifles, and incendiary launchers.	500	500	1000	Machining	Simple
Flak armor	Craft clothing with metal armor sewn in to resist bullets and explosions. This weighty armor slows movement slightly.	1200	1200	2400	Machining Plate armor	Simple
Mortars	Build mortars which can lob mortar shells long distances - even over walls.	2000	2000	4000	Gunsmithing	Simple
Blowback operation	Craft low-power blowback-operated guns like autopistols and machine pistols.	500	500	1000	Gunsmithing	Simple
Gas operation	Craft high-power guns like chain shotguns, LMGs, and heavy SMGs.	1000	1000	2000	Blowback operation	Simple
Gun turrets	Produce simple automated gun turrets.	500	500	1000	Blowback operation	Simple
Microelectronics	Work with complex microelectronics. This unlocks the Hi-tech research bench and comms console.	3000	3000	6000	Electricity	Simple
Flatscreen television	Produce high-resolution flatscreen televisions for greater enjoyment.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Tube television	Hi-tech
Moisture pump	Construct moisture pumps, which very slowly normalize the moisture in the ground around them. They can turn wet ground dry and convert soft sand into normal sand.	1200	1200	2400	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech
Hospital bed	Construct hospital beds which improve medical outcomes.	1200	1200	2400	Microelectronics Sterile materials Complex furniture	Hi-tech
Deep drilling	Build deep drills for extracting resources from deep underground. You'll need a ground-penetrating scanner to find the resources.	4000	4000	8000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech
Ground-penetrating scanner	Build ground-penetrating scanners that can detect drillable resources deep under the surface. Requires an advanced component to construct.	1000	1000	2000	Deep drilling	Hi-tech
Transport pod	Construct launchable transport pods that you can use to send people and supplies long distances across the planet's surface. Can be used for raiding, traveling, sending gifts, and more.	1000	1000	2000	Microelectronics Biofuel refining Machining	Hi-tech
Medicine production	Produce standard industrial-tech medicine by combining herbal medicine, neutroamine, and cloth.	1500	1500	3000	Drug production Microelectronics	Hi-tech
Long-range mineral scanner	Construct long-range mineral scanners your researchers can use to detect precious minerals across the planet. Can be turned to find a specific mineral. Requires advanced components to construct.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech
Shields	Build wearable shield gear. Shields use momentum-repulsion technology to prevent projectiles from traversing the field boundary.	1000	1000	2000	Microelectronics Complex clothing	Hi-tech
Precision rifling	Craft precisely-machined guns like assault rifles and sniper rifles.	1400	1400	2800	Microelectronics Gas operation	Hi-tech
Autocannon turret	Produce the heavy, long-ranged autocannon turret.	1600	1600	3200	Microelectronics Gun turrets Gas operation	Hi-tech
Multibarrel weapons	Assemble miniguns.	2600	2600	5200	Microelectronics Gas operation	Hi-tech
Multi-analyzer	Build multi-analyzers which increase research speed, and allow higher level research projects.	4000	4000	8000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech
Vitals monitor	Builds vitals monitors which improve medical outcomes when placed next to hospital beds.	2500	2500	5000	Multi-analyzer Hospital bed	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Fabrication	Build fabrication benches, capable of high-tech projects ranging from component assembly to power armor construction.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Advanced fabrication	Fabricate advanced components from standard components and other materials.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Uranium slug turret	Produce the armor-penetrating uranium slug turret. It fires uranium slugs which tear though plasteel like paper, but it's less effective at close range.	3000	3000	6000	Multi-analyzer Autocannon turret Precision rifling	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Piano	Craft the piano, an advanced stationary musical instrument.	2000	2000	4000	Harpsichord	Simple
Jump packs	Build jump packs to perform aerial assaults during combat	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech 1x Jump packs Techprint
Gunlink	Build wearable gunlinks to enhance your soldiers' shooting accuracy.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication	Hi-tech
Biosculpting	Construct Biosculpter pods which can perform various biological alterations to colonists. These are especially important to believers in transhumanism.	1500	1500	3000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech
Bioregeneration	Unlock the biosculpter pod's bioregeneration cycle. This cycle heals old scars, regenerates small lost body parts like fingers and toes, and cures many of the physical maladies that come with old age.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer Biosculpting	Hi-tech
Neural supercharger	Construct Neural supercharger devices. Neural superchargers improve consciousness and learning rate, but they also increase hunger and the effect must be refreshed daily. Transhumanists often hold neural supercharging as an important practice.	1500	1500	3000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech
Toxifier generator	Create toxifier generators which generate electricity, but also spread pollution around themselves.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple
Xenogenetics	Create xenogerms which can be implanted in a person to genetically modify them. Extract genepacks from living people using a gene extractor so you can reimplant their genes into someone else.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple
Gene processor	Build gene processors, which allow a gene assembler to create xenogerms of higher genetic complexity.	1500	1500	3000	Xenogenetics Microelectronics	Hi-tech
Archogenetics	Allows a gene assembler to use archite capsules to create seemingly-impossible genes. Archite genes and archite capsules can be obtained from traders.	2500	2500	5000	Fabrication Gene Processor	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Deathrest	Those with the deathrest gene must periodically undergo a special deathrest coma that lasts several days. This research project allows you to construct buildings which accelerate the deathrest coma and confer specific bonuses on the deathrester. Over time, you can build a grand deathrest temple.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple
Fertility procedures	Perform the surgeries necessary to create a test tube embryo from a fertile man and woman, then implant the embryo in a surrogate mother or growth vat. Also, perform sterilization surgeries on men and women.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple
Tox gas	Produce weapons that utilize caustic tox gas.	600	600	1200	Machining	Simple
Basic mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control basic-tier mechanoids.	200	200	400	Electricity	Simple (Mechanitor)
Standard mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control standard-tier mechanoids. You can get signal chips by using a mechanitor to summon a diabolus threat.	1000	1000	2000	Basic mechtech	Simple (Mechanitor) 1x Signal chip
High mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control high-tier mechanoids. You can get powerfocus chips by using a mechanitor to summon a war queen threat.	3000	3000	6000	Standard mechtech] Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Powerfocus chip
Wastepack atomizer	Build wastepack atomizers which can safely dispose of toxic wastepacks by decomposing them at the molecular level.	5000	5000	10000	Advanced fabrication	Simple 1x Nano structuring chip

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Spacer Research Projects

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon
Cryptosleep caskets	Construct cryptosleep caskets, which can put living beings in a state of indefinite suspended animation.	2000	2000	4000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Recon armor	Craft recon armor, a light powered armor suit used by scout troops who need protection on the move. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Fabrication Complex clothing	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Marine armor	Build marine armor. A general-use powered armor suit used by high-tech shock troops. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Recon armor Complex clothing	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Pulse charged munitions	Build weapons which fire pulse-charged munitions for extra damage. Note that these also require advanced components.	3000	3000	6000	Fabrication Precision rifling	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Bionic replacements	Build high-tech bionic body parts to replace lost limbs and eyes. Requires a skilled doctor to attach.	2000	2000	4000?	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Starflight basics	Construct the structural and supportive elements of a starship. This is the first step in building a ship to leave this star system.	4000	4000	8000	Advanced fabrication	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Starflight sensors	Construct long-range sensors for a starship. These sensors are essential for navigation, communication, and threat avoidance.	4000	4000	8000	Starflight basics Long-range mineral scanner	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Vacuum cryptosleep casket	Construct hardened ship cryptosleep caskets tough enough to be exposed to vacuum, for transporting people on the years-long journey between the stars.	2800	2800	5600	Starflight basics Cryptosleep casket	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Starship reactor	Build a long-duration nuclear reactor to power a starship. Note that reactors have a long startup process that will attract raiders.	6000	6000	12000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Johnson-Tanaka drive	Construct a Johnson-Tanaka drive for a ship. The JT drive can push you to other stars by leveraging quantum scale effects to beam momentum to distant stars. Of course, as with all starships, it still takes many years to get anywhere.	6000	6000	12000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Machine persuasion	Build a reward-signal system to persuade an existing AI persona into serving as a ship's machine captain. Since people sleep during interstellar travel, a persona core is necessary to handle the complex decisions of a years-long starflight.	3000	3000	6000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Cataphract armor	Craft cataphract armor, heavy powered armor that slows the user but which can absorb extreme punishment. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Marine armor	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 2x Cataphract Armor Techprint
Brain wiring	Craft brain implants that induce or prevent blunt sensations like joy or pain.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Brain Wiring Techprint
Specialized limbs	Craft specialized bionic limbs built for specific purposes - both combat and labor.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Specialized Limbs Techprint
Compact weaponry	Craft compact, concealable bionic weapons which can be embedded in various body parts.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Compact Weaponry Techprint
Poison synthesis	Craft bionics that synthesize venom from internal chemical reactors for use in toxifying attacks.	2000	2000	4000	Compact weaponry	Hi-tech 1x Poison Synthesis Techprint
Toxin filtration	Craft and install bionic organs that can filter out toxins from the environment and from enemy attacks.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Simple
Growth vats	Construct growth vats which can gestate an embryo or accelerate a child's growth.	500	500	1000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Ultra Research Projects

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon
Artificial metabolism	Craft bionics that process food more safely or efficiently than a biological stomach.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Artificial Metabolism Techprint
Neural computation	Craft brain implants that assist thought and learning by use of a direct, shallow brain-computer interface.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Neural Computation Techprint
Skin hardening	Craft bionic implants which induce the toughening of natural skin, producing an armor-like effect.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Skin Hardening Techprint
Healing factors	Craft bionics that enhance natural healing processes.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Healing Factors [[Techprint]
Flesh shaping	Craft bionics which induce the reshaping of natural flesh, usually for the purposes of aesthetic enhancement or personal pleasure.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Flesh Shaping Techprint
Molecular analysis	Craft bionics with molecular analyzers for assisting the immune system or analyzing food.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Molecular Analysis Techprint
Circadian influence	Craft brain implants that chemically manipulate the circadian rhythm, reducing or altering the need to sleep.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Circadian Influence Techprint
Ultra mechtech	The advanced technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control ultra-tier mechanoids, including large mechs and ultra-tier mechanitor gear. You can get nano structuring chips by using a mechanitor to summon an apocriton threat.	5000	5000	10000	High mechtech Fabrication	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Nano structuring chip

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Analysis

This is a rough suggestion of what technologies to research. Variations exist, and research order can change depending on current map and biome, colonist skill, personal playstyle/goals, and difficulty.

Industrial start

The suggested research path for Industrials (i.e. a "Crashlanded" start) is:

1. One of:
   • Batteries and solar generators
   • Watermill generators
   • Geothermal generator
2. Microelectronics
3. Multi-analyzer
4. Fabrication

At any point, modern weapons (Smithing, Machining, etc.) should be researched, up to a certain level. The rest is up to you.

Notes:

¹ You'll need some source of power. Watermill generators can only be used if a river (not ocean) is nearby. Water is a more reliable source of power, for the same research cost as batteries + solar. In theory, geothermal generators provide much more power than either option, but its 3200 research cost makes it more difficult for newer players. Rushing to geothermal is still possible, especially if you rely on wind turbines or wood-fired generators.

² Microelectronics gives access to hi-tech research bench, which makes research 33% faster. It also gives access to the comms console, an easy source for tradable items, and EMP grenades, which are very powerful against mechanoids.

³ A multi-analyzer boosts research by a further 10%, though you may not have the materials to create one. If you can't build a multi-analyzer or Fabrication's fabrication bench yet, then you'll gain the opportunity to chase some other tribal/industrial research projects. The ultimate goal is to reach Fabrication as soon as possible, so you can make your own components.

⁴ On a dangerous map, a quick detour to Gunsmithing (for basic rifles/shotguns/revolvers) may be desirable as soon as possible, immediately after your power needs are met.

Tribal start

For tribals (i.e. a "Lost Tribe" start), the research path should be something* like:

1. Complex Clothing:
2. Complex Furniture:
3. One or both of:
   • Stonecutting:
   • Smithing:

Then the same as Industrial (above), but with Electricity prior to researching the rest. Air Conditioning is often a priority, too.

Notes: The exact order will vary depending on your priorities. This is a cautious, conservative approach. Some players will rush to Electricity. Many players fall in the middle, grabbing one or three key techs and then going straight to central air cooling.

¹ Unless you landed in a very forgiving climate, you'll need protective clothing against the Summer/Winter weather while you march toward Electricity.

² Increases comfort of your colonists. Beds, end tables and dressers, dining chairs, and poker tables are very useful for mood and other general buffs.

³ Stone is a common and nonflammable material, great for walls. On some maps, it's quite possible to live underground (if you can mine that much). You can also use the very limited stone from ruins, and/or make every building from wood (until it burns down).

⁴ Superior melee weapons. Smithing is also a prerequisite for Machining.

Extreme starts

For hardcore 500% Randy runs, after finishing the battery and solar panel research, rush down Machining and weapons before Microelectronics. Firepower can be a life-/game-saver.

Gallery

All research projects in the base game

Version history

• 0.3.410 - Stonecutter's table now requires research
• Beta 19/1.0 - Split "Hospital beds" into Sterile materials and Hospital beds research projects.
• 1.3.3101 - Bioregeneration research project added.
• 1.3.3200 - Brain wiring, compact weaponry, neural supercharge, biosculpting, specialized limbs, poison synthesis projects now require hi-tech research bench.
• 1.4.3523 - The Colored lights research reworked and renamed to Advanced lights.
• 1.4.3527 - Tox gas research prerequisite: Electricity -> Machining.